A comprehensive advocacy campaign is building support for writing a bold next chapter in Fort Wayne’s success story.
News release from Fort Wayne Next:
Business leaders launch campaign focused on $3 billion development plan for Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana (March 14, 2025) – A comprehensive advocacy campaign is building support for writing a bold next chapter in Fort Wayne’s success story.
The multimedia campaign is driving awareness and excitement for Fort Wayne Next, a bold, innovative development plan that will bring nearly $3 billion in investment to Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana over 10 years and across five foundational development projects – all aligned under a cohesive, transformational vision. Through several videos and other digital assets, the campaign encourages Fort Wayne residents and state and city leaders to join the business community in pursuit of a bold vision for Fort Wayne’s long-term sustainability and success.
“Fort Wayne Next will positively impact our riverfront, our downtown and our neighborhoods, and it will supercharge our progress to becoming a world-class city,” said Eric Doden, one of the leaders driving Fort Wayne Next. “The recent momentum in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana has earned us national recognition. In an annual, respected national ranking of the best places to live in the United States, Fort Wayne has gone from unranked as recently as 2015 to 20th best place to live today. We believe this bold plan can get us to No. 1.”
The campaign is driving particular excitement around Fort Wayne Next’s flagship project, the Riverfront Planned Urban District. In alignment with best practices and following the example from other successful cities around the country, this $1.8B development will centrally locate four world-class facilities to maximize economic impact – a professional football/soccer stadium, arena / event center, natatorium and youth-sports complex. The project will connect development across the North River property with property along High Street, Superior Street and Wells Street.
A commissioned report from Hunden Partners, one of the country’s leading advisors in destination real estate, tourism and placemaking, emphasizes that cities that combine several event and entertainment venues as part of a compelling and walkable mixed-use district drive visitation and spending, generate economic value, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
“Fort Wayne is at an inflection point and has an opportunity to make significant investments in its civic infrastructure to allow it to continue its growth and recognition as one of the best places to live in the U.S.,” said Rob Hunden, President and CEO of Hunden Partners. “There are very few cities of Fort Wayne’s size that have taken on the initiative to plan and build more than two adjacent major event venues set within a mixed-use development that creates an activated year-round district. The halo effect and synergy amongst multiple event venues will generate more destination and development appeal for visitors to spend more time and money in Fort Wayne than they would spend at a single, isolated event venue.”
Through consultation with Hunden Partners, Fort Wayne Next has been designed to embrace these national best practices.
“Multiple event venues adjacent and within walking distance to restaurants, stores, hotels, offices and residential uses are necessary to support the viability of the developments, especially the restaurants, shops and hotels,” said Chuck Surack of Surack Enterprises. “Fort Wayne has a unique and critical opportunity to develop four venues set within a compelling mixed-use district to maximize their economic impact on our community.”
The campaign is also educating leaders about the proposed public trust ownership model, which would bring numerous benefits to the community. The North River Trust Co. will be managed by a board of community leaders and would ensure all profits from the project remain local instead of being removed by project owners based elsewhere. Profits remaining local also drives increased investment in neighborhoods throughout the city.
“It’s important for the long-term growth of our city to keep the ownership – as well as the economic impact – of our most valuable properties and key assets local and community-based,” said Larry Weigand, another business leader supporting the campaign. “The North River Trust Co. will ensure profits from the project remain here, support our community, and drive additional investment and development.”
More information on the campaign and the projects is available at FortWayneNext.com.
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